Are there any no-GMAT International Business MBA programs?

While the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) has for decades allowed business schools to measure and help predict a student’s potential success in their programs, some of the nation’s top business schools continue to waive the standardized test from its admissions requirements. Understanding that there are more factors that speak into a student’s value and potential, schools are taking note of qualities like undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and professional work experience. While some admissions offices offer GMAT waivers based on a student’s academic and professional experience, some have removed this requirement for all students completely.

The benefits of being exempt from the GMAT can be huge. Typically, a student can spend months preparing for a practice GMAT, then complete the official test, only to then need to take it again after not achieving the intended score. The general cost for the GMAT is $250 but students will often need to spend several hundreds of dollars more for preparation resources like software and workbooks. Students who have a natural aversion to standardized tests may also struggle as the score they receive is not a fair reflection of their academic ability and future potential. Thus, students begin a hunt for the best online MBA programs that do not require a GMAT score. Students researching top International Business Online MBA programs are no different. The great news is that as the world of online MBA programs get bigger, students have more and more options to choose from. Here are just a few of the best business schools which offer International Business online MBAs and also feature GMAT waivers.

Receiving its accreditation through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, the School of Business and Economics at Campbellsville University features an online Master’s of Business Administration with an International Business specialization. The business school has recently been recognized as offering the 86th best online program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. This 36-credit hour program is priced a $499 per credit hour, making the total cost of tuition a very low $17,964. Including such courses as Marketing Management, Organization Theory, Human Resource Management, and Business Strategy, this 100% online program allows students to take courses at a pace that works with their active work schedules. General admissions requirements for this degree include a completed application, three letters of recommendation, official transcripts showing a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5, a GRE/GMAT test result, a resume, and statement of purpose. Students with the proper academic qualifications and prior work experience can attain a GMAT waiver for acceptance into this program.

Another degree that does not require GMAT/GRE scores for acceptance can be found at City University of Seattle’s School of Management. This 48-credit hour online Master’s of Business Administration with an emphasis in Global Management features a total tuition rate of $33,024 and is divided between a foundational course in MBA Common Professional Components, business core courses, and concentration courses including Ethical Leadership, European Union, International Human Resource Management, Global Leadership, International Business, and a Global Management Internship. While the School of Management does feature an online application and request all transcripts from colleges and universities previously attended, the office of admissions does not require its candidates to submit a GMAT score.

With a low tuition rate of just $17,655, Park University’s School of Business offers an online Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in International Business. While candidates for this program are encouraged to submit transcripts from previous colleges and universities showing a minimum of a 2.75 cumulative GPA, no GMAT or GRE test scores are required for acceptance into this 33-credit hour, 100% online program. This degree features such International Business-intensive courses as International Economics, Advanced Seminar in International Marketing, International Finance, and Strategic Global Business Management. The business school, which receives its excellent business accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, has recently been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as offering the 110th best online MBA in the nation.

Admission requirements for the online MBA in International Business at the School of Business and Management at National University include an undergraduate degree from a regionally or nationally accredited college of university combined with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5, transcripts, and a completed admissions application with corresponding $60 fee. While candidates with a GPA of 2.0 to 2.49 are required to submit a standardized test score like a GMAT, GRE, or Miller Analogies Test, any students with a 2.5 GPA or greater are exempt from this requirement. Priced at $26,208 in total tuition fees, this 63-quarter unit degree features 18 quarter units of International Business-intensive courses including Comparative International Management, Topics in International Business, International Entrepreneurship Project, Global Business & Strategy Planning, and International Experience. The School of Business receives its business accreditation through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education.